Media Release: Kelowna’s OGO Carshare Co-op Joins Modo

Vancouver, BC (June 1, 2018) – Member-owned carsharing pioneer Modo announces that, effective today, June 1st, the carsharing service in Kelowna will join Modo. Members of OGO CarShare Co-op are now members of Modo with the same benefits and rates.

The collaboration of Modo and OGO will provide continuity of carsharing and enhanced service in the Okanagan, starting with the addition of two more vehicles to grow the Kelowna fleet. OGO originally launched in August 2013 with 35 members and two vehicles and has since grown to 13 vehicles and over 450 members. The long term plan has been to create a viable carsharing social enterprise, based on a growth model that will meet the members’ mobility needs and provide an affordable and convenient alternative to owning a vehicle or second one. OGO members will gain access to over 600 vehicles across Kelowna, the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, allowing ease of transportation throughout the regions.

“OGO has worked hard to establish a carsharing network and culture in Kelowna over the past five years. With member and board support, and the foundation laid, we’re now ready to join forces with Modo to take the service to the next level. As Victoria and Nanaimo experienced in their transition to Modo, members should see benefit from the added resources, knowledge, and staff expertise to help grow carsharing throughout the Okanagan. We’re excited to see what the next five years and beyond has in store, as the shared mobility space continues to evolve at record speeds,” says Martin Bell, Past OGO Board Member and CEO at Urban Systems Ltd.

From OGO’s inception in 2013 the organization has had a close relationship with Modo. Members already use Modo’s booking software and fobs to access the vehicles, so the transition will be seamless and will allow for the carsharing needs of the Okanagan to be met and faster expansion to occur in region. Modo CEO Patrick Nangle says both co-ops see the advantages of this collaboration. “Our purpose is to connect people with places in a way that’s affordable, convenient, inclusive and sustainable. The collaboration with OGO does exactly this. With the region quickly growing and densifying, we expect to see carsharing play an even greater role in reducing traffic, congestion and parking issues. Modo’s expansion to Kelowna gives OGO members more choice and access to an even larger fleet across the province.”

OGO Co-founder and Executive Director, Christian Brandt will be joining the Modo team as the Regional Fleet Manager for the Okanagan and continue to develop community relationships that he has fostered for the past five years. With eight Modo locations in Kelowna and thirteen vehicles, OGO members are feeling very positive about the move to Modo, and it’s expected that more Kelowna residents and businesses will turn to carsharing, with fuels prices and insurance rates on the rise.

“We’re excited to see Modo invest in our region and provide continuity of service to our residents, businesses and staff at the City of Kelowna,” says Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran. “As Kelowna grows, we all need to be proactive when it comes to developing a more sustainable transportation network, ensuring people can easily move around. Carsharing is a great complement to other active modes of travel like walking, cycling and public transit, and we hope to see more people adopt a lighter carbon footprint.”

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About Modo

Modo started in 1997 as the first carshare co-operative in the region. To this day, it remains member-owned, driven by people not profit. Modo provides its two-way, round-trip service, to more than 20,000 members and 800 businesses across the Okanagan, Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Members get access to over 600 cars, trucks, SUVs and vans, with rates starting at just $5 per hour, including gas and insurance. www.modo.coop